Orange County NC Website
24 <br /> Commissioner Hamilton asked how they determined the 10% carve out for rehabilitation. <br /> Blake Rosser said they are looking at it in conjunction with the way federal funds are <br /> distributed through HOME funds. He said they analyzed that using a smaller pot of funds for repair <br /> and rehab makes the most sense so larger pots of money can be used for projects with more <br /> impact. <br /> Aaron Cohen said most of their funding comes from the state and these figures of <br /> $500,000 over a five-year period represent a 1:1 match. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said she asked that because as she canvassed, she saw there <br /> are a lot of homes that need repair. <br /> Blake Rosser said they are aware of a high community need for this as well. <br /> Aaron Cohen said the UNC lab has a 200-resident waiting list. <br /> Chair Bedford said that Justice United says it is near$2 million. She asked for clarification <br /> on the federal dollars. <br /> Blake Rosser said the HOME program is dedicated to either development, acquisition, <br /> rehab, tenant-based assistance, and that is decided based on the consolidated plan. He said they <br /> have been thinking strategically about how to get the most bang for the buck and repair and rehab <br /> along with tenant assistance seems to the be two. <br /> Chair Bedford asked what coordination with other organizations would look like (from the <br /> scorecard). <br /> Blake Rosser said that would be if there are multiple partners or an MOU between multiple <br /> partners applying. <br /> Chair Bedford asked what "links to other community services" means on the scorecard. <br /> Aaron Cohen said that was pulled from the previous scorecard and from what he can tell <br /> is that it was used to show links to other ongoing community services whether those are inside or <br /> outside of Orange County. <br /> Chair Beford said that she thinks the inclusive language regarding marketing on the <br /> scorecard needs work. <br /> Aaron Cohen said that they can find a broader meaning or reflective language that is <br /> clearer. <br /> Vice-Chair Greene said she supports rewarding those including folks with lived <br /> experience. Unsure about the word marketing. <br /> Chair Bedford said she agrees. She asked about developer experience. <br /> Blake Rosser said that they are looking for additional documents rather than just a <br /> rubberstamp. <br /> Chair Bedford said that this is very similar to the outside agency funding and unfair to <br /> newcomers. She said that she does not think it is relevant. She said there might be other groups. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she thought the developer score was about experience with a <br /> developer and not with the Board. <br /> Chair Bedford said as worded, it would still eliminate new recipients. <br /> Commissioner Greene said that when she was on the Chapel Hill Town Council, she <br /> experienced a church applying for housing development funds and it had to be considered in a <br /> way that had never been done because they were partnering with builders. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said they need to have the services and cannot afford not to. <br /> Commissioner McKee said repair/rehab has no visibility/impact from a publicity standpoint. <br /> He said that he would rather eliminate a person with good intentions rather than approve and <br /> have a crash and burn of their funding. He said that without dedicating a portion to rehab, <br /> affordable housing projects will dominate conversation and repair/rehab will get lost in the <br /> conversation. He said at that point, the houses will then be beyond repair. <br /> Commissioner Richards said that leverage is important but challenged them to think about <br /> ways to exercise the leverage other than ability to repay. <br />